Category: 7.8 No Blame Approach Workshop: Sample Agenda

7.8 No Blame Approach Workshop: Sample Agenda

Duration:

1 day
Group size:

6 – 16 participants/ 1 or 2 trainers

 

Exercise, handout number Time Method Material
Welcome, introduction
Previous experiences with bullying interventions (positive/negative)		 20 min  

 

 Flipcharts:A - welcome
Agenda 10 min Flipcharts:B Agenda for the workshop
Understanding bullying
How do I recognize bullying?
“Bullying glasses”		 40 min Groups of 2-3
Collection of points on pin board		 Flipcharts:
C Understanding Bullying 3D-Bullying glases
Definition of (cyber) bullying 5 min
 Flipcharts:
E - definition of bullying 4abF-Definition of cyberbullying 4c
Break 15 min
The Bullying system

The Characteristics of the No Blame Approach

Steps of the NBA

 30 min
Flipcharts:
G-bullying system 5H-the no blame approach 6
I-steps of the process 7Flipchart_08
Preparation 1st role play: meeting with the affected student


 

  90 min Groups of 3
O-meeting affected student role play 13P-observation role 14
Lunch 60 min
Preparation 2nd role play: meeting with the support group (H12, H13, H14)


 

  120 min Depending on the group size: 1 or 2 role plays (parallel)
Flipcharts:
Flipchart 15Q-meeting with the support group 16
R-express personal concern 17S - dealing with accusations 18

SAM_0040

Handouts: guideline, evaluation

Teachers handout 3: Guideline meeting with the support group
Break  15 min
Follow up meetings with affected student and support group
How to continue?		 Flipcharts:
U- follow up meetings 20V-with members of the support group 21
Parents and the NBA
Open questions		 Handout: Parents
Evaluation
Goodbye

Comment: This is a possible agenda for a 1-day-long workshop. If there is more time available, the trainers can include additional activities or exercises (see: Additional material).

7.8.1 Welcome, introduction

Duration: 

approx. 20 min
Aim: 

Getting to know each other, participants are sharing their motivation for attendance, reflection of previous experiences with bullying situations.
Materials:

Flipchart No. 1, (flipchart samples see additional material)
Instruction for implementation:

After welcoming the participants the facilitators make sure that everyone gets the chance to introduce him/herself in case they have not met the others beforehand. They ask for the motivation to attend the workshop and how long the teachers have been teaching at their school.

Next questions:
Who of you had to deal with/solve a concrete case of bullying in your class/ at your school?

  • Looking back, were you satisfied with the outcome?
    If yes, what did you do exactly? Which measures did you take? What was successful?
    If no, what do you think, why the intervention didn´t work?
Source:

  • Fairaend, Heike Blum and Detlef Beck, No Blame Approach Workshop, Handbuch für Trainerinnen und Trainer 2010, translated and partially revised by Beate Roggenbuck

Further reading:

  • Heike Blum, Detlef Beck, No Blame Approach Praxishandbuch 2010
  • Heike Blum, Detlef Beck, Eltern und der No Blame Approach, Ergänzung zum Praxishandbuch, 2013
  • George Robinson, Barbara Maines, Crying for help – the No Blame Approach to Bullying, 2000
  • George Robinson, Barbara Maines, Bullying – A complete guide to the Support Group Method, 2008

7.8.2 Agenda

Overview of the program

Duration: 

Approx. 10 min.
Aim: 

Participants receive an overview of the workshop program and are informed about the relevance of active involvement.
Materials:

Flipchart No. 2.
Instruction for implementation:

The facilitators give a brief overview of the workshop agenda.

  • How can bullying be identified? Who can be helpful?
  • What is bullying exactly? What are the main characteristics? Distinction conflicts from bullying.
    The focus of the workshop will be the training of the No Blame Approach (NBA)
  • The trainers will introduce the steps of the NBA and give instructions how to proceed.
  • Experiencing and learning the procedure of the NBA by taking part in role plays will take the majority of the training time.

At the end of the training, participants will discuss possible additional steps to combat further bullying and deal with open questions.

7.8.3 How do I recognize bullying?

Duration: 

40 min
Aim: 

Participants will be introduced to the analytical tool “bullying glasses” in order to recognize a bullying situation. They will sharpen their observation by reflecting possible signs like bullying activities and bullying signals or hints from colleagues, students etc.
Materials:

Flipchart No. 3a, 3b, pin board, markers
Instruction for implementation:

The facilitators ask the participants to form small groups of two or three persons in order to reflect the questions on flipchart No. 3 (Approx. 5 minutes).Facilitators have prepared a chart on the pin board:

“Bullying glasses” Information sources Bullying activities Bullying signals
Stabilizers

Facilitators invite the participants to share their collection of answers. One facilitator moderates the exchange and the other one takes notes, classifying the answers and writing them down. There is no discussion at this point, just the collection of answers and the correct classification. If there is no fluent exchange, the trainers try to stimulate further thoughts, e.g.:

  • What else did you observe in former bullying cases?
  • Why does bullying work/ stabilizers?
  • What are your sources of information?

Once the columns have been filled in, facilitators introduce the “bullying glasses”, explaining that not only one or two observations/signals/activities justify labeling a certain behavior as bullying. But if a teacher observes several symptoms in different columns there is a strong likelihood for bullying. Also: Once a teacher becomes suspicious that there might be a case of bullying it is helpful to put on the bullying glasses and have a close look at the specific situation of a student.

7.8.4 Definition of bullying

Duration: 

5 min
Aim: 

On the basis of the definition of bullying and cyberbullying participants will be able to distinguish between a conflict between two or more parties and a bullying situation.
Materials:

Flipchart No. 4ab, 4c
Instruction for implementation:

After the introduction of the bullying glasses the definition of bullying will be presented. In this context, the facilitators emphasize that bullying is not a case for peer mediation since there is an extreme power imbalance between the protagonists.

 

 

7.8.5 Bullying System

Duration: 

10 min
Aim: 

Participants are introduced to the basic idea of a systemic approach, meaning that bullying is a group phenomenon which involves protagonists (the bully or bullies), colluders, bystanders, and observers. It is a functioning destructive system of a group which needs an intervention from the outside in order to change the situation for the better. Participants understand that the bullied person is hardly ever able to disburden him/herself.
Materials:

Flipchart No. 5
Instruction for implementation:

The facilitators present bullying as a closed system with different roles. There are protagonists (the bully or bullies), colluders, bystanders, and observers. Since there is an extreme power imbalance between the bullies and the bullied student, an intervention from outside is necessary. The facilitators point out that bullying will not be regarded from the perspective of the offender and the victim but rather from a systemic approach. This means that representatives of the class will be in the focus including the protagonists, colluders, and observers as well as the affected student. Bullying is a group phenomenon.

7.8.6 The No Blame Approach – characteristics

Duration: 

10 min
Aim: 

Participants get to know the “special” attitude of the NBA. Contrary to common educational interventions in case of bullying the teacher will not blame the bully/bullies but rather involve him/them and other students in a process of behavior change, thus initiating a supportive structure for the bullied student and an end of bullying activities.
Materials:

Flipchart No. 6
Instruction for implementation:

Facilitators explain the characteristics of the NBA. There is possibly a need to discuss the aspect: “no blame, no punishment” since this contradicts the usual educational responses. If participants are very critical it is helpful to talk about bullying cases where the offender was punished and might have taken revenge or where a bullied student left the class, in both cases a win-lose result. The NBA tries to change behavior patterns by influencing group dynamics and thus withdrawing a supportive atmosphere for the bullying protagonists.
Background information:

The concept was developed by George Robinson and Barbara Maines in the 1990-ies in England. In 2002 Christopher Szaday introduced it in Switzerland since 2003 Heike Blum and Detlef Beck from the German organization Fairaend have been spreading the approach in Germany.Furthermore, the concept is in use in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia and New Zealand.

7.8.7 Bullying Intervention without sanctions – overview of the steps of the process

Duration: 

10 min
Aim: 

Participants will be introduced to the steps of the NBA approach and get an idea about the concrete procedure.
Materials:

Flipcharts No. 7, 8
Instruction for implementation:

The facilitators point out that these two flipcharts give an overview of the NBA procedure. The facilitators comment on the illustrated steps:

Firstly, the teacher meets with the affected student in order to win his/her trust and his/her agreement to intervene. This meeting is crucial, the teacher should not only show concern about what is happening but also his/her commitment to help and confidence that the problem can be solved.

The student will be informed about the planned steps. In order to form the support group the teacher asks the names of friends and of classmates who are still supportive. On the other hand, he/she asks who is bothering the affected student (offender and bystanders).

The goal of this meeting is not

  • to find out in detail what happened to the student
  • give him/her advice concerning possible changes of behavior
  • reflect possible reasons why he/she is affected

The meeting lasts 30 – 45 minutes.  The student should be relieved of any responsibility, the teacher signals his/her commitment. A date for a follow-up meeting will be found (within 8 – 14 days), until then the student observes carefully what happens.

Secondly, the teacher forms a support group. This group includes 3 – 4 bullying protagonists plus 3 – 4 friends of the affected student or at least neutral students.The group´s unique factor is that it is not a support group for the affected student but for the teacher who asks for help to solve the bullying problem.The support group aims at developing ideas and measures which can be carried out by members of the group to stop bullying activities.

The meeting with the support group will take place during regular classes (colleagues need to be informed beforehand).  Students will be invited personally or in written form, the purpose of the meeting will not be mentioned, just the need for solving a problem together. The teacher shows an appreciative attitude towards all participants without blaming anybody and mentions skills and resources each and every student has to help.

Thirdly, follow up meetings with the affected student and members of the support group (individually) will take place 8 – 14 days later. The teacher talks to the affected student in order to find out whether any (positive) changes occurred and how he/she is doing.There will also be individual meetings with the group members to evaluate the situation. Have the students been able to put their ideas into practice? Has the bullying stopped?

At this point, the facilitators don´t allow a lot of questions. Open questions can be answered later on when the steps will be dealt with in detail.
Background information:

The concept was developed by George Robinson and Barbara Maines in the 1990-ies in England. In 2002 Christopher Szaday introduced it in Switzerland since 2003 Heike Blum and Detlef Beck from the German organization Fairaend have been spreading the approach in Germany.Furthermore, the concept is in use in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia and New Zealand.

7.8.8 Meeting with the affected student

Duration:

15 min
Aim:

Participants receive a detailed overview how to approach a bullied student including a possible interview guide.
Materials:

Flipcharts No. 9, 10, 11, 12 – fastened on a pin board next to each other
Instruction for implementation:

The facilitators explain that the group is now at the point to actually start with the training of the 3 steps of the concept. The first step is to meet with the affected student. Depending on the situation the teacher will call the student at home (if he/she is not going to school anymore) or contact him/her in school. The meeting will be arranged in a separate room where nobody will disturb them.

The teacher greets the student warmly: “How nice to see you. Don´t worry I´m not talking about the lessons that you missed during the last days…” He/she will share his/her observations:

“I have noticed that…”
“I don´t see you anymore…”
“Your parents are worried…”

In the next phase, the teacher asks how the student feels at school. It is not necessary to go into details of the bullying incidents but rather to get a general idea.

The teacher will question the student concerning his/her will to change the situation, will convey confidence and express his/her commitment to help.

Flipchart No. 11

The teacher explains the next steps, emphasizes that he/she wants to relieve the burden and conveys safety.

Flipchart No. 12

Next, the teacher will inquire the names of friends or companions of the affected student but also the names of the bullying protagonists. Afterward, he/she assures confidentiality and finds out what should not be mentioned. Finally, the student is asked for his/her approval to proceed and a date for a follow- up meeting is agreed on.At the end of the presentation of the guideline for the talk, the facilitators will underline that it is of utmost importance to create an atmosphere of trust and confidence during the whole conversation.

7.8.9 Guideline: Meeting with the affected student

  • Introductory phase
    Build a relationship
    Build trust
  • Share your observations
    I have noticed that…
    I don´t see you anymore…
    Your parents are worried…
  • Ask the student to express his/her thoughts and feelings
    Do you like coming to school?
    Do you feel good in your class?
    How are you?
  • Inquire whether the student wants to change the situation
    This is a difficult situation
    Do you want things to change/to improve?
    I am sure that we can do something  to modify what is happening. Would you like that?
  • Convey confidence
    A lot of students have gone through similar experiences as you and found a way out.
  • Show interest and commitment
    What is happening to you cannot be tolerated.
    I want every student to be able to attend school without fear –  that includes you.
  • Procedure will be explained
    I will have a meeting with some of your classmates.
    Together with them, I will think about ways to improve the situation for you and the whole class.
    The group will consist of students you like but also include those who are causing your problems.
  • Take away the burden of the student
    You don´t have to become active. I will take care of it.
  • Convey safety
    It is important for you to know that nobody will be punished or will get in trouble.
  • Who should belong to the support group?
  • Bullying protagonists
    In order to be able to do something for you, I need to know who is participating in giving you a hard time.
    Who is bullying you? Anybody else?
  • “Neutral” students
    Friends
    Who do you get along with?
  • Confidentiality
    Student expresses what should not be mentioned.
  • Agree on a date for a follow- up meeting

Source:

  • Fairaend, Heike Blum, Detlef Beck, Trainingmaterial 2009, Gespräch mit gemobbten Schüler

7.8.10 Evaluation: Meeting with the affected student

Depending on the size of the group the role play can be evaluated by a facilitator and a group member (observer). Here are lead questions for the evaluation.Step 1: The “affected student” will be asked

Step 1: The “affected student” will be asked

  • How are you doing now?
  • Which phrases/behavior/attitude were helpful for you?
  • Were you able to build trust?
  • Anything that was not constructive?
  • What else could have been helpful/positive?

Step 2: Questions to the “teacher”

  • How are you doing now?
  • What did you manage well?
  • What was difficult?

Step 3: Feedback of the facilitator (observer) (directed at the teacher)

  • I liked…
  • Some ideas on what the teacher could consider/change in the future

Source:

  • Fairaend, Heike Blum, Detlef Beck, Trainingmaterial , Evaluation Gespräch mit Mobbing Betroffenem, revised by Beate Roggenbuck

7.8.11 Role play teacher/student meeting

Duration: 

50 min
Aim:

Participants will conduct the first role plays in different roles. There will be two rounds offering the chance to either “play” the teacher or the affected student and thus experience how the guideline for the talk is working.
Materials:

Flipchart No. 13, guideline for the meeting with the affected student (prepared copies), evaluation guideline:  meeting with the affected student (prepared copies), two role play settings (enough copies for the subgroups),
flipchart No. 14.
Instruction for implementation:

The facilitators ask the group to split up in subgroups of three. They distribute the copies of the guideline for the meeting (Flipchart No. 13). The participants distribute the roles amongst themselves (1 teacher, 1 student, 1 observer) Teacher and student face each other, the observer keeps a little distance. Teacher and student receive role descriptions. If possible the subgroups find a quiet corner to practice the role play. Two role plays with alternating roles will be conducted. The facilitators will visit all subgroups in order to get an impression of how it is working.

Flipchart No. 14

After each round, there will be an evaluation which will be moderated by the observer (if applicable by one facilitator). The facilitators will remind the observers to focus on constructive feedback: “What went well?  What did you like?  Which phrases/expressions were positive?” “What could be improved?”  (Find more detailed instructions in the handout: evaluation guideline).After the evaluation in small groups, the facilitators ask the subgroups to return and the whole group reflects the following question:“What can be helpful in this introductory meeting?”

7.8.12 No Blame Approach Training: Support group: conditions

Duration: 

5 min
Aim: 

Participants will get to know the set-up of the support group.
Materials:

Flipchart No. 15
Instruction for implementation:

The facilitators introduce the size and conditions (Flipchart No. 15) of the support group. The group consists of 6 – 8 students, who receive a written or personal invitation which should not include the name of the affected student. The meeting takes place outside the classroom in a separate room during regular classes to avoid resistance.

 

7.8.13 Meeting with the support group

Duration: 

30 – 40 min
Aim: 

Participants become acquainted with the procedure of the meeting with the support group.
Materials:

Flipcharts No. 16, 17, 18.
Instruction for implementation:

The facilitators explain the procedure (Flipchart No. 16) of the second step of the NBA:

The teacher greets each student personally and tries to create a positive atmosphere by asking some general questions (but not too long), then leads to the topic of the meeting, stressing that they are here because he/she needs their help. Then the teacher points out how the affected student is doing (no use of the word bullying, no blame) stating that a member of the class is having a very hard time. The teacher has to be prepared that this is the first difficult moment since the bullying protagonists might start to defend themselves or even accuse the affected student that it is his/her own fault. It is best, to stay calm and continue the discussion in a future – oriented manner (the NBA aims at changing behavior patterns in a positive way instead of looking back and analyzing misbehavior in the past).

Flipchart No. 17

After the description of the problem the teacher focusses on his/her personal concern then turns to the students as “experts” who can help. It is helpful to think beforehand of a personal skill of each student. What is mentioned should not be superficial or too general but something “authentic”.

Flipchart No. 18

The teacher asks each member of the support group to come up with ideas what he/she can personally do to improve the situation of X. Here ideas like: “I´ll walk home with her/him.” or “I will invite him/her to spend time with me,” might be mentioned and will be appreciated by the teacher.It is sufficient if the protagonist declares that he/she will stop bothering the affected student. In case of cyber bullying, it is mandatory to delete the insulting message/film/website.

7.8.14 Guideline: Meeting with the support group

  • Introduction
    By addressing students personally and by name
    Establish rapport
  • Transition to the subject of the meeting
    You are probably wondering why…
    … because I need your help
  • Describe the problem
    X is having a hard time…
    X didn´t come to school last week…
    … anything that is relevant
  • Express your personal concern/personal interest
  • Use I statements:
    I am worried about X.
    I am alarmed that…
    I find it important that…
    I want things to change…
  • Approach students as “experts” who can help
    I am convinced that you can help me.
    Address each student individually by naming a personal skill he/ she has… ( Here it is important to refer to real skills the students have – nothing general or superficial)
    You know your class and your classmates.
  • How to deal with accusations and criticism
    Don´t respond to them in depth
    We are not here to analyze who did what during the last weeks but to reflect on how to improve the situation for X.
    Our view is future- oriented.
  • Develop ideas
    Ask the students to contribute ideas and visualize them on a flipchart (including the names who is responsible for what)
    All students have to participate (participating can also mean that the bullying protagonists declare that they will stop bothering X.)
  • Teacher expresses praise and confidence
    Teacher thanks the students for their input and commitment
    You will make it!
    Agree on a date for the follow- up meeting in 8 – 14 days

Source:

  • Fairaend, Heike Blum, Detlef Beck, Trainingmaterial, Gespräch mit Unterstützungsgruppe – Gesprächsleitfaden

7.8.15 Evaluation of the meeting with the support group

Depending on the size of the group the role play can be evaluated by a facilitator and a group member (observer).

Step 1: Questions to the “bullying protagonist and colluders”

  • How are you doing now?
  • How will you behave from now on? What will you do?
  • What about the bullying activities: will you stop them?
  • Will you try to put the ideas concerning the bullied student into practice?

Questions to the “neutral students, friends”

  • How are you doing now?
  • What do you think, will the situation improve for X?
  • How do you judge the situation?
  • Will you put your proposals into practice?

Questions to the “teacher”

  • How are you doing now?
  • What do you think the students will do?
  • How do you judge the situation? Are things going to change for the better?

Step 2: Feedback from the “students”

  • What did you like about the facilitation?
  • What went well?
  • What else could have been helpful? Any other ideas how the facilitator could have raised your motivation to support X?

Feedback from the “teacher”

  • What did you manage well?
  • What was difficult for you?  Things you would change the next time?

Feedback from the facilitator

  • What went well? What was constructive?
  • What could be intensified?
  • What should be considered in the future?

Source:

  • Fairaend, Heike Blum, Detlef Beck, Trainingmaterial , Evaluation Gespräch mit Unterstützungsgruppe, revised by Beate Roggenbuck

7.8.16 Role play: Meeting with the support group

Duration:

20 min. distribution of roles, preparation,
30 min. role play,
60 min. evaluation and group discussion
Aim:

Participants will slip into the roles of either teachers or students (bullying protagonists, followers, class representative, and neutral students). The “teacher(s) will train to conduct the talk in a non-accusatory attitude, pointing out that he/she needs the help of the group in order to solve a problem. Thus, the focus is shifted from the affected student to the teacher who asks for support to solve the difficult situation of the affected student X. Participants will experience how the approach is working and which kind of effect it has on group dynamics.
Materials:

role play descriptions, guideline: meeting with the support group, name tags, flipchart No. 19, markers

for the evaluation: Worksheet: Evaluation of the meeting with the support groupFlipchart No. 19
Instruction for implementation:

The facilitators moderate the distribution of the different roles. Sometimes it is easier to choose two teacher representatives. Afterward, the students´ roles will be spread. The facilitators distribute role play descriptions. The “teachers” pick names for the participating students. Make sure to use name tags.

Then there will be time for the teachers to prepare the meeting including the seating arrangement (preferably chairs in a circle).  If there is a team of teachers they will discuss the concrete collaboration (Who will start?  Who is responsible for which phase of the meeting?)  Teachers are encouraged to reflect the different steps but also rely on their own competencies and experiences. Also, they should try to come up with a skill/positive attribute of each invited student. Sometimes it is easier to write down key words. As soon as the teachers have finished the preparation of the role play they will invite the students to come in.  During the role play teachers can signal a time-out phase if they feel stuck, this applies also to the facilitator who observes the role play. Duration: 25 – 30 minutes.

Teachers try to create a positive atmosphere and should avoid traps e.g. long discussions about character traits of the affected student, power games, and provocations.

Evaluation procedure: At the end of the role play the facilitator/observers will moderate a structured evaluation (see worksheet).

After the evaluation, the facilitators ask the participants to shake off their roles and take off name tags. If two groups have worked parallel, they will meet again. Then the facilitators initiate a discussion with the following topic:

“What is helpful during the meeting with the support group? (E.g. behavior, phrases, body language)Helpful phrases/behavior patterns etc. will be noted on a flipchart.
Helpful phrases/behavior patterns etc. will be noted on a flipchart.

7.8.17 Follow up meeting with affected student, support group

Duration:

See time suggestions on flipcharts
Aim:

The participants will be informed about the last step of the NBA: the follow-up meetings with all involved students which will be conducted separately and which will lay the foundation for the decision whether further steps are needed (e.g. another meeting with the support group) or whether the intervention was successful. Additionally, the participants will reflect possible obstacles and difficulties students might encounter.
Materials:

Flipcharts No. 20, 21
Instruction for implementation:

Flipchart No. 20

The facilitators refer to the follow-up meetings which take place after 8 – 14 days (sometimes depending on the age of the students). First of all, it is important to find out how the affected student feels by now. Has the situation changed for the better? Thus the teacher will be able to judge whether further steps are necessary to improve the situation. He/she will also talk to the members of the support group individually, inquiring what the person thinks how the affected classmate is doing now and also ask for an estimate of the current situation.

Flipchart No. 21

Only after all the meetings will the teacher reflect on how to proceed. In case the intervention has not been successful he/she will invite the support group again. Could their ideas be put into practice?  If not, why not?  Other ideas to include/help/support the affected student?

 

7.8.18 Further steps, open questions

Duration: 

30 -60 min., depending on time agreements
Aim:

Depending on the seriousness of the bullying case and the damage which has been caused, further steps might be necessary. Participants will get to know possible follow-up activities. The intention is to raise the participants´ awareness of a potentially fragile situation.
Materials:

Flipchart No. 22
Instruction for implementation:

Flipchart No. 22

The facilitators comment:  Even after a successful intervention it is important to keep an eye on the affected student.
How is he/she doing?
Are things fine?
Also, talk to the members of the support group about how they experience the class atmosphere and the position of the affected student.  More activities might be needed, e.g. additional support for the affected student, social skills training in class, a buddy program  (an older student is the mentor of a younger one) or an additional program for bullying protagonists. Also, a (cyber)bullying awareness raising training for the whole class sensitizes the students to the problem.After the discussion of potential further steps, the facilitators ask whether there are any open questions left concerning the procedure of the NBA and try to answer them. If the time frame is too tight, a follow-up meeting can be proposed, if manageable. But experiences from hundreds of workshops have shown that a one-day-training enables teachers to apply the approach without problems.

Evaluation procedure: At the end of the No Blame Approach workshop participants will be asked for a feedback, orally or in written form. This should be decided by the trainers. Advised aspects of the evaluation:

  • comprehension of the NBA
  • effectivity of the training
  • training methods

At the end of the workshop, the facilitators will thank the group for participating and encourage them to work with the NBA.